More momentum to sell Metrodome to Wilf for $1?

There may be growing legislative support for one more Minnesota Vikings stadium idea: Selling the Metrodome to the team for $1.

Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, and Rep. Linda Runbeck, R-Circle Pines, have scheduled a press conference for Friday to “present an alternative Minnesota Vikings football stadium plan.”

Although details were not known, Marty had recently told a reporter that he and Runbeck were considering a proposal to sell the Metrodome to Vikings owner Zygi Wilf for $1 and simply have Wilf remodel or build a new stadium on the downtown Minneapolis property. The Vikings have played at the Metrodome since 1982.

In addition, Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker, said he too had considered proposing similar legislation with Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, but said Thursday he would drop back to see what Marty and Runbeck would unveil. “We were going to do it,” said Howes.

“If we give [the Vikings] the Metrodome for a buck, they can make that into a very good facility that they can make a lot of revenue on,” he added.

The Vikings however are continuing to focus on a $1.1 billion proposal to build a new stadium in Ramsey County’s Arden Hills. Under a proposal from the team and Ramsey County, $650 million of the project would be paid for by the state and Ramsey County taxpayers.

The Metrodome-for-a-dollar proposal is not new. Former Rep. Paul Kohls, R-Victoria, proposed the same idea more than a year ago. Said Kohls at the time: “Let’s give it to the Vikings and let them do what they want with it.”

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